Chapter 18: The Ambush
Lu Xun drew in a long breath before parring the next attack thrown at him. There had been no stopping the unit as they charged against the four. Lu Xun jumped back from an attack, slashing through the enemy solider quickly. His blades were soaked in blood and the soil was wet with crimson liquid. The sound of arrows flying through the air told Lu Xun that Zhen was not down and out just yet.
"My lord!"
Zhen was back at his side, kneeing an enemy in the stomach before swatting him away with her bow. Blood spots dotted her face and a line of mud was seen on her cheek bone. Not only that but Zhen's bottom lip had been split open from a nasty back-hand. Blood dribbled down her chin. The little girl tried to catch her breath. "My lord, are you all right?" Zhen inquried quickly. Lu Xun smiled briefly at her as the pair backed away from the crowd of enemies.
"I'm fine Zhen. We must get to Masamune quickly." Lu Xun responded. Zhen nodded her head and loaded her bow. She noted she was running low and cursed inwardly.
Meanwhile Masamune was having a little trouble of his own. For every two soldiers that were slayed, at least three more would appear. Masamune wiped his chin free from blood and dirt while a few enemy soldiers began to surrond him. There was no sign of Lu Xun which further worried Masamune. The air was tense before Masamune pulled out on of his guns and aimed it at one soldier. "You want me? Come and get me!" Masamune snarled. The soldiers returned the snarl and charged forward.
However before any contact could be made, five figures dropped into view. The enemy soldiers slammed to a stop when the figures turned out to be Masamune's Bodyguard Tiger. The soldiers began to panic before Tiger leapt into the fight. The five versions made quick work of the soldiers. When the last one fell, Tiger fell to her knee. "Tiger!" Masamune yelled, running to his bodyguard's side. The ninja quickly tried to catch her breath as the other four figures disappeared.
"I'm fine my lord." she whispered. The sound of fighting was getting closer. Tiger readied herself in front of Masamune. The dragon tensed again.
--
Hideyoshi paced his chamber slightly. His wounded arm had been fixed but his mind was not on the pain. No, he had to find at least some way of explaining everything to Nobunaga. But...But how can I explain that Lu Xun ran away with Masamune? Hideyoshi wondered. The monkey sat himself down and looked at the bright blue sky.
"Lu Xun...I thought you were happy serving Lord Nobunaga."
--
The dragon smiled wildly as Lu Xun and Zhen ran towards him. "Lu Xun! How are you holding up?" Masamune inquried as the four regrouped. Tiger felt her blood boil when she spied Zhen's split lip. The ninja promised that whoever had hurt Zhen would pay. Lu Xun cast his eyes over the remaining Soliders which were still a fair few. The commander of the unit still had to show themselves.
"I've been better." The red warrior paused a little and wiped the back of his hand across his forehead. His hair was damp with sweat. "We need to get out of here. Zhen is running low on arrows and I doubt any of us have enough strenght left to fight." he added. Masamune nodded his head. Things were not looking up for them and things could just as easily get worst. The dragon had to think of a plan.
"We have to get to the castle but we can't afford for the unit to follow us to its location." Masamune nodded his head towards the heavy foliage that surronded them. "Not to mention that their commander has still not shown themselves." Lu Xun nodded his head. Masamune had made sense and the only logical idea was the slaughter the remaining soldiers. Lu Xun cast a worried eye towards Tiger and Zhen.
"We must surive this fight. For the sake of our future." Lu Xun whispered to himself.
--
Da Ji pouted sourly as she looked over the courtyard of the now smoldering castle. The once proud flags of the Date clan flapped pathetically in the wind. They were now nothing more then burnt remains. It had taken her a lot longer then both Masamune and Lu Xun thought to work out that the pair was no longer in the castle. The flags had been left up as a decoy and although Da Ji would never admit it out loud, she was actually surprised at their courage to surive.
"My lady! The castle is empty."
Da Ji cursed and flicked some ash from her hair. That hadn't surprised her but the fox was a careful creature. She wanted to make sure and had sent her unit into the smoldering castle. "Has anyone seen Sima Yi?" Da Ji inquried. There came a murmer and every soldier shook their head. The fox frowned this time before a soldier ran towards her. "What? Have you found Sima Yi?" she questioned quickly.
"There are footsteps and hoof prints outside the back enterance. I think that Lu Xun and Masamune left that way and Lord Sima Yi followed." he informed and bowed. Da Ji raised an eyebrow.
--
Lu Xun and Masamune had been seperate once again. The remaining soldiers were doing everything in their path to keep them apart. Tiger noted how the soldiers were trying to wear Lu Xun down but in effect where trying out right to kill her lord. The ninja knew she would not let either fall and had launched into a full attack. The Dragon nodded his thanks before slaying a few more enemies. "I'm fine here Tiger. Go and protect Lu Xun." Masamune ordered. Tiger shook her head.
"My lord, I will not abandon you." Tiger argued. She parred another attack before driving her short sword through a soldier's stomach. Masamune wiped some more blood from his face as he drew one of his guns. There came a loud bang and a few soldiers hit the floor. The dragon glanced back towards his bodyguard.
"Just go. I'm fine here." Tiger swallowed her pride, nodded her head and took off in the direction of Lu Xun. Masamune turned back to the soldiers. He noticed that there weren't many left which meant they might just make it through. It's a small sliver of a chance but its all we got. Masamune thought grimly.
Zhen slammed her bow against a soldier before kicking him in the stomach. The little bodyguard tried hard to recall some of the fighting moves Tiger had taught her but she could not think straight. Zhen jumped back, using her weight and height to her advantage before punching the soldier in the face. As the soldier hit the floor, Zhen glanced over her shoulder to find her lord. Instead she was shocked to see a soldier sneaking up on Lu Xun. "My Lord!" Zhen yelled, running full pelt towards him.
Lu Xun slaughter another soldier and turned quickly around. He gasped loudly as the soldier behind him brough his sword down...
...only to have Zhen take the hit. The little bodyguard screamed in pain which made Lu Xun and Masamune pale. Tiger stared in horror as Zhen hit the floor, clutching her wounded side. The gash was large almost reaching round her back. Tiger charged forward but was blocked by another trio of soldiers. Zhen stood on shaky legs, grabbing an arrow with her free hand and slamming it in the soldier's chest. Lu Xun was straight at her side. "Zhen? Zhen, are you all right?" Lu Xun asked in fear. Masamune and Tiger rejoined the two.
"I'm...fine...Lord Lu Xun. Please don't...w-w-worry about me." Zhen whispered. Her hand felt sticky with blood as tiny droplets of crimson fell to the dusty floor. Lu Xun felt hot tears prick the back of his eyes. Masamune glanced at the last soldiers. Their chances of suriving were rising again.
"We have to get you out of here. You cannot fight in your condiction." Lu Xun stated. Masamune glanced towards Tiger who nodded her head. She knew it was her duty to take her wounded sister to the castle. Zhen grasped Lu Xun's arm with her good hand tightly. She cursed as another shooting pain racked through her tiny frame.
"I refuse to leave you my lord. I have a duty to up-hold." she hissed through the pain. Lu Xun clasp his own hand on top of hers and gave his tiny bodyguard a stern look. Tiger had already collected Zhen's bow.
"You are in no condiction to fight. Please Zhen. I would die if you were killed during this fight." Lu Xun pleaded. Zhen finally let go of her lord's arm and slowly stood up. Taking Tiger's hand, the two bodyguard's disappeared off to the castle.
--
When Da Ji had returned to the castle, she found Orochi waiting for her. "And where have you been?" The Snake inquried. Da Ji let a sweet smile grace her lips. It was clear that Orochi was not in the best of moods and Da Ji was only trying to worm her way out of whatever punishment that would follow. "Have you even noticed that not only has Lu Xun gone but Masamune as well?" Orochi hissed.
"Of course my lord. I had been out to try and track them down along with Sima Yi." Da Ji began. Orochi glared hard cutting the fox off. The Snake was in a foul temper and Da Ji knew she might not be able to worm her way out of it.
"And where is Sima Yi?"
"Erm...well...my lord, I do believe he stayed behind to continue on. He is relentless in tracking Lu Xun and Masamune down." Da Ji smiled. Orochi growled loudly in his throat. Da Ji squeaked and backed away from the Snake King.
--
Tiger was worried.
Not only had she ordered to leave her lords behind, her sister was not looking too good at all. At first Tiger thought it was because Zhen had lost a lot of blood. The ninja had prayed that the little wu girl would hold on. However things were looking a lot more serious then that. Tiger paused and looked back at the pale face figure of Zhen. "Please Zhen. We must hurry." Tiger urged.
"I'm coming...Azumi. Don't...leave me...behind." Zhen called out. The little girl wiped her forehead. She felt light-headed, hot and sticky. Zhen was swaying dangerously as if she had been drinking. Tiger turned to look back at the path when a loud thump caught her attention. The ninja turned back to Zhen only to find that the little girl had collasped.
"Zhen!" Tiger screamed. The said warrior did not move as Tiger ran towards her. The ninja began to panic further. "Zhen! Zhen, can you hear me?" Tiger called, shaking her sister. Zhen could only groan in pain. Taking a quick look at the wound, Tiger then knew it was more then blood loss. "Hold on Zhen. Please." Tiger begged as she bundled Zhen into her arms. Using her ninja speed to her advantage, Tiger ran as fast as she could.
--
Lu Xun felt rage boiling away in his blood. His bodyguard, the young girl who had risked her life for him over and over again, had been badly hurt. They would all pay, every single soldier that stood on Orochi's side. Masamune said nothing as Lu Xun got into stance. The dragon had seen that same stance once before in battle.
"Here we go!"
The soldiers looked at each other in confusion before Lu Xun launched into an attack. Those stupid enough to get close were tossed into the air, slaughter effortlessly before Lu Xun sent their lifeless bodies flying. Those who were left edged further away from Lu Xun. The warrior in red continued to glare. Masamune grinned. He sheathed his own sword and brought out both of his guns.
"Out of my way!"
A hail of bullets appeared as Masamune unloaded bullet after bullet from his guns. Those who remained had no chance. They screamed in pain before falling to the ground. As Masamune finished the attack he grinned wildly. However the grin was cut short when Lu Xun screamed in pain. The dragon stared in horror as one of Lu Xun's sabers hit the floor. The red warrior clutched his shoulder tightly. He could fell blood sliding down his own arm. Masamune swallowed thickly. How could I have been so stupid. he wondered.
One of Masamune's bullets had gone stray and shot Lu Xun in the shoulder.
The dragon called out to Lu Xun but the warrior did not hear him. Masamune called his name again and ran towards his beloved. Still Lu Xun did not turn to him. Instead there was something in the bushes that had captured Lu Xun's attention. Whatever it was it had shook Lu Xun to the core. Masamune was not that far away from Lu Xun when the dragon heard a strange sound. "What was..."
"Masamune! Look out!"
The dragon slammed to a stop as Lu Xuns stood in front of him. A purple spear shaped beam was fired from the bushes aiming straight for Masamune. Instead Lu Xun had taken the hit. The purple beam tore straight through Lu Xun's unprotected stomach. Lu Xun gasped loudly, flecks of blood and spit splashing onto the dusty floor. Masamune swore loudly. "Lu Xun!"
Time seemed to have slown down. Lu Xun slowly fell to his knees before falling backwards. Masamune willed his legs to go faster. He wanted to save Lu Xun from falling against the floor. It was the least he could do. At the last minute Masamune had managed to catch Lu Xun and they both hit the floor. "Oh my god! Lu Xun." Masamune screamed.
Lu Xun could only whimper in pain.
Thank you to Angelus98, AZNchaos07 & www.blond-girl for their reviews.